U.S. Pacific Command Commander Admiral Samuel Locklear III (left) and the Philippines’ Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Jessie Dellosa review honor guards during a welcoming ceremony at the Armed Forces of the Philippines general headquarters in Quezon City, Metro Manila December 13, 2012. Locklear told reporters in Manila that there will be more training exercises and disaster relief operations between the U.S. and the Philippines as part of their mutual defense treaty.(MNS photo)

MANILA, Dec 13, 2012 (AFP) – Long-time allies the United States and the Philippines on Thursday blasted North Korea’s “provocative” rocket launch as a threat to regional security and pledged to strengthen their military ties.

In a statement following bilateral talks attended by top diplomats and security officials, the two countries vowed to boost cooperation in the wake of Pyongyang’s move.

“The two sides also strongly condemned… (the launch) utilizing ballistic missile technology and emphasized that this highly provocative act is in direct violation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions,” the statement said.

“Given this current threat to regional security, both sides will strengthen and increase their close alliance coordination,” it said.

The meeting was attended by US Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, Assistant Secretary of Defense Mark Lippert and their Filipino counterparts Erlinda Basilio and Pio Batino.

The US considers the Philippines a major non-NATO ally in the Asia Pacific region, where Washington had earlier announced a strategic shift of its forces.

Filipino officials have previously said they hoped the Philippines could play a key role in that pivot, with a former US naval base north of Manila already increasingly accommodating American carriers and submarines.

The meeting also came at a time when the Philippines, along with other Southeast Asian countries, is embroiled in an increasingly tense territorial dispute with China involving territories in the South China Sea.

Washington had earlier warned China against its perceived aggressiveness in staking out its claims.